MassMutual Provides for Customization of Asset
Allocation Funds

August 6, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - MassMutual's
Retirement Services Division has introduced a tool allowing
employers and advisers to make plan-specific investment
options available to participants that are based on a target
retirement date, investment objective, or a combination of
the two, using a plan's existing investment lineup.

With CustomChoice Strategies, plans can offer
customized investments using asset allocation models
developed by Morningstar Associates, LLC and delivered
through a Web-based interface, according to a press
release. Sponsors can select funds from the plan’s
existing investment lineup to meet Morningstar
Associates’ target asset allocations, or they can
adjust those asset allocation targets within preset
ranges to further align them with the demographics of the
plan’s participant base.

According to the announcement:

Strategies reflect plan objectives and
participant demographics;

CustomChoice Strategies can be based on target
retirement dates in five- or 10-year increments, or
three, four or five lifestyle categories, or a blend
of target retirement dates in 10-year increments,
each with three lifestyle categories;

Using funds in the plan’s existing investment
lineup to create the customized strategies can
simplify fiduciary oversight;

Customized model strategies are listed among
the investment options available to participants in
enrollment materials and on the Web site; and

Morningstar will review the asset allocation
targets annually, and the sponsor or adviser will be
advised to review and re-authorize the custom
strategies.

“MassMutual’s CustomChoice Strategies also
creates an opportunity for retirement plan advisers to
provide additional value to plan sponsors and
participants. If an advisor is assuming an investment
fiduciary role, CustomChoice Strategies offers an
easy-to-use solution that makes it easy to develop and
implement unique investment strategies. Whether the plan
uses target retirement date, risk-based models or a
combination of the two, CustomChoice Strategies offers a
custom solution that has many advantages over
off-the-shelf alternatives,” said Paul Steven Henry,
vice president of product development for MassMutual’s
Retirement Services Division, in the announcement.

Retirement plan advisers interested in additional
information or a demonstration of CustomChoice Strategies
can call MassMutual at 1-888-626-4911, or visit
www.massmutual.com/retire
.